N.J.'s Gov. Christie declares state of emergency for southern counties after weekend blizzard

Governor Christie said Tuesday he will declare a state of emergency in several southern counties hit hard by the snow storm last weekend.

Christie said at a press conference he will issue the executive order later Tuesday for Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland and Burlington counties.

He said the designation will allow New Jersey to seek federal reimbursement for costs associated with damage associated with the storm.

Christie said he has participated in several conference calls with the Board of Public Utilities and Atlantic City Electric in an effort to restore power to the approximately 30,000 people who still lack it as a result of the storm.

"We still have a significant problem" in Cape May, Christie said, which he described as "hit extraordinarily hard."

He said people may continue to seek out shelters if they need to stay warm. Christie said the state is also aggressively preparing for another storm expected to hit later today.

"We're going to be ready," he said, noting that in some ways, the state is lucky that this blizzard is aiming at northern New Jersey and said it would be "really devastating" if the storm's full wave fell on southern counties.